On an overcast Tuesday morning, summer campers at Onion Creek Club in what Hays County locals like to call North Buda were swinging tennis rackets and hitting balls. They were part of the club’s summer camp programs which include golf, soccer, tennis, cooking and LEGO.
This day head counselor Paige Loughary, 22, was checking in campers for Swing and Splash as well as Camp Onion Creek.
A senior at Texas State University, Loughary is in her fourth summer running the sports camps. She also works at the club’s Tennis Shop year round. Loughary is one of four coaches for the sports camps.
She wants to be a sport entertainer at a tropical resort or cruise line’s private island.
What is a sports entertainer?
“They are the ones that when you go to resorts they have beach volleyball and beach soccer,” she said.
Essentially she would lead vacationers in sporting activities.
But because Texas State doesn’t offer a major in exactly that field, Loughary is a general studies major with three minors: English, Exercise and Sports Science and Sports Recreation.
Originally from Jacksonville, Illinois, about 30 miles west of Springfield, she said she may consider staying in Texas after graduation, but is still looking for opportunities to become a sports entertainer.
Loughany said campers like the variety offered at the camp.
“Every week we get a whole new group of kids and by Friday, they say, ‘Mom, can I stay here?”
She said they play tennis in the morning, then golf for an hour and then swim for an hour and a half. Lunch is included in the price of the camps.
“Then the campers play another sport in the afternoon,” Loughary said. “Every day is just active, active.”
Loughary said the campers seem to like the camaraderie and that it’s a lot of fun.
She likes the camp, too.
“It brings out my inner kid,” she said.
Several of the campers chimed in when asked what they like best about the camp.
“I like the tennis because it’s really improving me,” one said.
“I like swimming,” another said.
“I like the games they play,” a camper said.
“I like the coaches,” said another.
All agreed they would come back again.
